EM-102.1 | Continuous and Indeterminate Beam Apparatus

A range of beam experiments can be performed to measure support reactions, deflections and rotations of simply supported, fixed and two span continuous beams, simple and propped cantilevers, and sinking supports. Test beams with different material and cross section are carried by pinned supports on three load-measuring piers each containing an electronic load cell which measures the vertical reaction forces. The output from each load cell is fed into the Data Acquisition Interface supplied. Data Acquisition Software captures the key experimental parameters from the hardware. Three dial gauges on movable stands measure the beam and support displacements. Supplied with hangers, calibrated weights set and set of test beams.

Learning Objectives

• All variables in deflection of beams
• Slope and curvature of beams
• Support reactions of single span and continuous beams
• Effect of sinking supports
• Area moment theorems
• Super-position
• Clerk Maxwell’s reciprocal theorem
• Comparison of measured reactions with theoretical values
• Study of effect of sinking supports.